The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has addressed circulating reports about the alleged disbandment of all police units and squads across state commands, offering clarification on the matter.
In a statement by Police Spokesperson Anthony Placid, IGP Disu described the claim of disbanding units nationwide as misleading.
According to IGP Disu, the police under his leadership only directed the reduction of the tactical teams at the zonal and state command levels to a maximum of five and at the area command and divisional levels to a maximum of three to avoid proliferation and duplication.
“This report is a misrepresentation of the IGP’s directives. The IGP, a grassroots officer with a profound network across Nigerian society, is aware of public concerns about police tactical teams’ operations and the creation of multiple teams by Commissioners of Police and Heads of formations, with attendant backlash.
“Having held command positions nationwide and witnessed tactical teams in action, the IGP values their contribution to crime-fighting.
.”He is, however, uncomfortable with their proliferation, which drains Police Divisions and Posts of required manpower and brings issues that affect the Force’s integrity because of the excesses of the poorly supervised teams.
“To address these issues, the IGP directed the reduction of the tactical teams at the Zonal and State Command levels to a maximum of five and at the Area Command and Divisional levels to a maximum of three.
“This can be achieved by merging or disbanding teams, at the heads of formations’ discretion. The teams referred to exclude state government-created outfits like Lagos’ Rapid Response Squad, Oyo’s SRS, Bayelsa’s Operation DOO-AKPOR, and other similar outfits across the country. The IGP expects this move to free personnel for police stations, reducing complaints about tactical team excesses.
“Having emphasized accountability and a people-friendly force in his maiden address to Nigerians, the IGP took this step to enhance supervision of existing teams, strengthen police divisions, and remove causes of complaints against the force by members of the public,” the statement read.
